Conforto homers twice, Beavers sweep

CORVALLIS — Michael Conforto made a very strong push for this week's Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week honor on Sunday.

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Posted Mar. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 4, 2013 at 2:25 AM

Posted Mar. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 4, 2013 at 2:25 AM

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CORVALLIS — Michael Conforto made a very strong push for this week's Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week honor on Sunday.

The sophomore set a career-high with seven runs batted in on the strength of his first career grand slam and later a three-run home run to pace the sixth-ranked Oregon State baseball team to a 14-0 win over Bryant Sunday afternoon at Goss Stadium.

The win gave the Beavers a series sweep over the visiting Bulldogs.

The win pushed Oregon State to 12-0 this season and for the fourth time in school history. The 12-game winning streak is also the team's longest since the 2007 club won 12 straight late in non-conference action.

Bryant, meanwhile, dropped to 0-6-1 on the year.

The Beavers sent 13 batters to the plate in an eight-run sixth inning with Andy Peterson driving in two and Danny Hayes and Joey Matthews driving in one apiece. But it was Conforto's grand slam that highlighted the inning and pushed OSU to a 10-run advantage.

Conforto added to his tally with a three-run home run over the scoreboard in right center in the seventh to put the Beavers up 13-0 and solidify his weekend. The sophomore collected four home runs and 12 RBI over the last three games of the series.

The eight-run frame in the sixth gave the Beavers a considerable cushion after plating two in the fourth. Gabe Clark grounded out for the first run of the game and Hayes beat out a dribbler at first to drive in Dylan Davis from third. Davis had doubled two batters prior for the Beavers first hit of the game — OSU proceeded to collect 10 from the fourth through sixth innings.

Oregon State finished with 13 hits. Conforto and Hayes had three apiece, while Davis and Tyler Smith pitched in with two apiece.

Brandon Jackson was the recipient of the offensive surge and improved to 2-0 this season after throwing three innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just two hits and struck out five.

Ben Wetzler made his season debut for the Beavers and threw 41 pitches in 32/3 innings before being relieved by Jackson with a runner on first in the fourth. Wetzler allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Oregon State hits the road Tuesday for a 2 p.m. game at Portland.

NO. 14 OREGON 9, NO. 17 CAL STATE FULLERTON 1 — At Fullerton, Calif., freshman Cole Irvin gave the Oregon Ducks the start they needed on the mound and Ryan Hambright snapped out of an early-season slump to lead No. 14 Oregon to a win over No. 17 Cal State Fullerton at Goodwin Field.

Irvin picked up the much needed win after Oregon dropped the first two games of the series. The left hander scattered eight hits over seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out three.

Hambright, who entered the game with just two hits in 36 at-bats, finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Ryon Healy, Brett Thomas and Shaun Chase all had two hits for the Ducks (8-3).

The Ducks took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second. Hambright picked up the first RBI with a single to right field after a throwing error by Titan shortstop Richy Pedroza put runners on second and third with no outs. Connor Hofmann added a RBI on a one-out squeeze bunt to give Oregon a 2-0 lead.

Oregon added another unearned run in the top of the fourth to make it 3-0. Hambright picked up an RBI single to right, scoring Kyle Garlick, who was on third after a throwing error by Fullerton pitcher Grahamm Wiest on a pickoff attempt.

Oregon returns home for a pair of games at PK Park against Cal State Northridge today (6 p.m.) and Tuesday (noon).